FAITH || Lesson 23 

FAITH

Text:  Hebrews 11

Lesson Twenty-three – V.32

Examples of the ancients who were commended for their faith: (Cont’d.)

SAMSON [Part 3]: V.32 – And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,

See Judges 15.

[Regarding the story of Samson (Judges 13-16), as well as the other Scriptures, note:

Romans 15:4 – For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – ¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.]

Judges 15:3 – Samson said to them, “This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them.”

Let us thank the Lord for continuing to remind us of Romans 12:17-19 – ¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.  ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Note: Luke 23:34 – Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

This was while He was being nailed to the cross.

Luke 23:40-43 – ⁴⁰But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  ⁴¹We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

⁴²Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

⁴³Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

This was while He was hanging on the cross.  Earlier, both had hurled insults.  Matthew 27:44 – In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

1 Peter 2:20-23 – ²⁰But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.  ²¹To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

²²“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

²³When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

Judges 15:11 – Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam and said to Samson, “Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?” He answered, “I merely did to them what they did to me.”

Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us?  Let us thank the Lord that, in comparison, He is instructing us to refuse to let sin rule over us. 

Note Romans 6:11-14, 18 – ¹¹In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  ¹²Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.  ¹³Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.  ¹⁴For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

¹⁸You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Judges 15:14 – As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands.

The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power – See Lesson Twenty-two, Judges 14:6, 19 and the accompanying passages.

Judges 15:18 – Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the LORD, “You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?”

He was very thirsty – Let us thank the Lord that He is pointing us to Matthew 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

He cried out to the LORD – Let us thank the Lord for continuing to remind us of the importance of prayer.  See Lesson Twenty-one, Judges 13:8 and the accompanying passages.

You have given your servant this great victory – Let us thank the Lord that “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

Judges 15:19 – Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi.

Let us thank the Lord that He is hereby directing us to:  Matthew 7:7-8 – ⁷“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  ⁸For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Mark 11:24 – Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

John 15:7 – If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.